Places MikeInSanFrancisco Wants to Go

A bronze statue dating back as far as 1252, still has remnants of gold on its right cheek from ancient gilding.

A Buddhist temple to honor insects that died for science.

A bibliophile's heaven that contains hundreds of bookstores, offering over a third of secondhand books for sale in Tokyo.

Drinkslinger is an unlikely vocation for a Buddhist monk, but at this Tokyo bar the enlightenment is served in a martini glass.

Meet the world's longest tapeworm in a collection that really gets under your skin.

One of Japan's most famous sights, the bridge was originally built in 1673.

Steaming blood-red hot spring from hell.

This isolated Japanese mountain village untouched by time showcases unique and stunning traditional architecture.

The Buddhist temples of Yamadera, built into a mountain side, feature a viewing deck with sweeping views.

Buddha figures are carved into volcanic rocks on the seashore of Yamagara Prefecture.

Ward off bad luck and fill your bottle with "the most watery water" at this little roadside shrine in Yonezawa.

The self-mummified monks of Japan.

The bartenders at this crime-fighting theme cafe are actual private detectives by day.

An ordinary pond with fish from out of this world.

This pond is so stunning it looks like you've stepped into one of Monet's masterpieces.

After a profound show of devotion for his master, a dog becomes the symbol of loyalty for an entire nation.

Legend holds eating just one of these black eggs can add seven years to one's life.

Once the main gateway to Tokyo, sneaking through this checkpoint was a capital offense in feudal times.

Open-air museum with an elaborate sculpture garden, stretching for over 70,000 square-meters.

A restaurant modeled after feudal Japan, where the waitstaff are trained as ninjas.

This subterranean spot might be the epitome of Japan's baroque, retro coffee houses.

Tokyo’s only Ainu restaurant serves Indigenous food from northern Japan.

A massive cave complex boasts some of the clearest water (and most charming bats) in the world.

With over 12,000 different species of plants, this botanical garden is Japan's oldest and most diverse.